“Do you ever work?” Jess nudged Ian.
“Yes, and I’m also allowed to have lunch. Imagine that.” Ian tugged her ponytail.
“I don’t know, cuz; you seem to be getting a little thick around the waist. Maybe you should cut back on the burgers.” Jess poked Ian in the side.
Aaron watched Ian narrow his eyes and slap his hand against his hard stomach. Ian was a doctor, but he was also a bit of a gym rat. Ian worked out every day, and besides Keith, Ian was the only one of the brothers to make it to a black belt in Karate. He and Jess trained together in Kurt’s dojo and taught a lot of the kids in the town since Kurt had cut back on teaching.
“I only have one thing that’s thick.” Ian wiggled his eyebrows.
“Oh God. Gross.” Jess gagged.
“Melinda should be in town tomorrow,” John said as he finished the last of his sandwich.
“I told Crash I’d get him to bring Bethany to the station when Melinda gets here.” Aaron waved to the waitress that had taken over since Nick’s fiancée had gone back to her regular job as an interior designer.
The pretty woman was no more than twenty but was friendly and good at her job. Aaron waved to her, so he and Jess could place their order.
“I heard Bethany gave Crash the slip.” John chuckled.
“Yeah and nearly drowned because of it,” Aaron grumbled.
The curious stares from his brothers and cousin had him rolling his eyes as he explained what happened after the waitress took their order.
“Crash must be pissed she tricked him.” Jess snorted.
“I think he was more embarrassed.” Aaron stood up to allow John out of the booth.
“I’m sure it won’t happen again,” John said as he and Ian headed away from the table.
“How are you doing?” Jess said when his brothers were out of earshot.
“Why is everyone asking me that? I’m fine.” Aaron rolled his eyes.
“Come on, A.J., I saw your reaction when you saw her, and I remember how hurt you were when she left without explanation.” Jess reminded him.
“She explained plenty. She wanted to move with her dad and sister. End of story.” Aaron smiled at the waitress as she placed his hot turkey sandwich with fries and gravy in front of him.
“I don’t believe that, and neither do you. There was more to that than just her family leaving. I think it had something to do with Raquel fuck anything with a dick Evans.” Jess whispered the name she and Kristy had dubbed Raquel during school.
“It’s ancient history… are you fucking kidding me,” Aaron snapped as he glanced up to see Bethany walking into the diner, alone, again.
“Twice in one day. Ohhhhh… I’m going to give Crash such shit over this.” Jess waved to Bethany and Aaron wanted to kick her.
“Before you get bent out of shape, he’s outside talking to John.” Bethany glanced around without looking at him.
“Are you here for lunch?” Jess asked.
“Yeah, but it looks full.” Bethany sighed.
“Sit with us.” Jess moved in and glared when Aaron tapped her with his toe.
“That’s okay. I can’t stay.” Bethany’s gazed flicked to him then back to Jess.
“That sounds familiar,” Aaron said it a little louder than he intended.
“Don’t be silly, sit down.” Jess pulled Bethany down next to her.
Aaron suddenly became very interested in his plate of food but barely tasted it as he shoveled it into his mouth. He needed to finish and get as far away from her as possible.
Jesus.
Why was he so shaken when he was near her? He had a thousand questions he wanted to ask her, but the minute Aaron was close to her, all he could think about was how much he ached to crush his lips against her or scream at her for leaving.
The only thing worse was the voice he heard heading toward him. He glanced up and wished the floor would open up and swallow him whole.
Chapter 9
“A.J., I’ve been looking all over the place for you, baby.” Bethany turned to see a woman stagger toward them on four-inch heels and clearly inebriated with another overly made-up woman behind her.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Aaron growled.
The girl slid into the seat next to Aaron and tried to kiss him. He pushed her back, but the girl was relentless and reached under the table to grab him between the legs.
“Fuck, Jocelyn. Stop this shit. Kylie, why didn’t you bring her home?” Aaron managed to grab the woman’s hands and push her out of the seat.
“She doesn’t listen to me.” Kylie shrugged her shoulders as she stared at Bethany.
“I’m horny, baby. So horny for you,” Jocelyn slurred.
“Jesus Christ, you do realize you are in the middle of a public place.” Aaron grabbed the woman’s arm and led her through the door.
“If he hadn’t dumped her, maybe she wouldn’t be drinking so much,” Kylie retorted as she followed Aaron and Jocelyn.
“Wow, that was…” Jess pressed her lips together and then burst out laughing. “Hilarious.”
“Jess, you’re terrible.” Bethany tried to hold in the laughter, but seeing Jess holding her stomach was just too much.
Bethany sat in the seat that Aaron had just vacated. Aaron hadn’t moved on from the easy tramps since high school. She didn’t know that when she started dating him. At least not until it was too late, and she’d fallen head over heels.
“What are you two laughing at?” Bethany looked up to see Sandy holding a little boy’s hand.
“A.J…. Bimbo… Oh. My. God.” Jess gasped for air and Bethany covered her mouth to hold in the laughter.
“Okay, so you’re useless. Do you know what she’s so hysterical over?” The woman’s dark-brown eyes kept flicking back and forth between Bethany and Jess.
“She’s laughing because A.J.’s girlfriend practically put her hands down his pants here in the seat and proceeded to tell him how… umm… stimulated she was.” Bethany tried to keep the conversation child appropriate.
“Alex, why don’t you go ask Aunt Alice if you can have a cookie.” Sandy crouched down to the little boy who didn’t hesitate to run off to the kitchen.
“A.J. has a girlfriend?” Sandy sat next to a laughing Jess and shoved her with her hand. “Pull it together, woman.”
“It… was …Jocelyn.” Jess said in between trying to control her laughter.
“Fuck, he needs to get some cream to get rid of that hemorrhoid.” Sandy rolled her eyes.
“She reminds me of Raquel. Guess that’s his type.” Bethany forced a chuckle because it killed her to think about them together.
“Who’s Raquel?” The confusion on Sandy’s face mirrored Jess’s expression.
“Do you mean Raquel Evans?” Jess’s laughter stopped.
“Yeah.” Bethany glanced back and forth between the two women.
“Who’s Raquel Evans?” Sandy slapped her hands on the table.
“We went to high school with her. She was in the same class as Kristy. She was the bitch, bully, and slut of the school.” Jess stared at Bethany as she spoke.
“A.J. dated her?” Sandy stared at Jess.
“I doubt it. A.J. despised her in school.” Jess tilted her head and met Bethany’s eyes. “Why would you think he was with Raquel?”
Bethany glanced back and forth between Jess and Sandy. She was confused by the conversation. It wasn’t possible that his family didn’t know he’d been with Raquel in high school, or had he?
“He was seeing her before I left to go away.” Bethany sat back in the seat and watched the shocked reaction on Jess’s face.
“Who told you that?” Bethany practically jumped a foot in the air at the sound of Aaron’s voice.
“Ahh…” Bethany pressed her body closer to the wall as he placed his fists on the table and leaned over it.
“Who?” Aaron’s voice was more of a growl.
“It was common knowledge.” It was all she co
uld think to say.
“Not that common because I never knew about it,” Jess interjected.
“Who told you I was dating Raquel in high school, Bethany?” Aaron’s blue eyes narrowed as he locked his gaze with hers.
“I overheard it in the girl’s room.” She didn’t know why she was so nervous to tell him because she wasn’t the one that fucked the biggest whore in the school.
“Who?” Aaron said through clenched teeth.
“Why does it matter?” Sandy asked.
“Because if it’s who I think, then I know why Bethany left town all those years ago.” Aaron stood up and crossed his arms over his chest.
“Is there something I don’t know?” Sandy asked Jess. “I don’t like being the only one not to know something. Especially if it’s something I can tease A.J. about.” Sandy looked like a kid at Christmas.
“Bethany left without telling him why and A.J. was heartbroken for months. She never even said goodbye to any of her friends. Just up and left.” Bethany turned when she heard the female voice.
Kristy.
“Hi, Kristy.” Bethany gave her a small smile.
“Who said I was dating Raquel, Bethany?” Aaron didn’t even seem to notice Kristy next to him.
“I heard Raquel and her shadows talking about it the day after our prom.” Bethany folded her arms over her chest. “She said the only reason you were with me was to win a bet you made with Cory and Joey.”
“That was a lie.” Aaron seemed frighteningly calm.
“I heard you, Aaron,” Bethany admitted.
“I think maybe you two need to talk alone.” Jess tried to push Sandy out of the seat.
“Not a chance, I want to hear this.” Sandy rested her elbows on the table and tucked her fists under her chin.
“There’s no way you heard me say I was dating Raquel.” Bethany was uncomfortable with the way Aaron glared at her.
“No, but I was in the hallway when you collected the money from the bet. Two hundred from Cory and two hundred from Joey, if I remember correctly,” Bethany said smugly.
Aaron didn’t say a word as he pulled out his phone and tapped the screen. He put the phone to his ear, but his eyes didn’t leave hers.
“Cory, get over to Jack’s Place. I need you to clarify something for me. I’ll explain when you get here,” Aaron snapped into the phone and ended the call.
Aaron shoved the phone back into his pocket and sat down next to her on the seat. The booth suddenly seemed very crowded.
“So…. would you like a tea or coffee?” Jess waved to the waitress behind the counter.
Before Bethany could answer, she looked up to see Cory next to the table. He’d certainly grown up, but with the way he was glaring at Aaron, he didn’t seem to be pleased about being dragged away from whatever he was doing.
“It’s a good thing I was on my way in here to grab a coffee or I would have told you to fuck off. Could you be a little more vague next time?” Cory stood with his hands on his slim hips.
“Ask him, Bethany.” Aaron didn’t look at Cory or her, but it was comical the way Cory’s eyes snapped to where she sat.
“Bethany Donnelly?” Cory glanced at Aaron and then back to her.
“Hi, Cory.” Bethany smiled at him.
“Well, get the fuck out here and give an old friend a hug.” Cory motioned for her to get out of the booth.
“She can do that when you answer her question,” Aaron practically growled.
“What question?” Cory was appeared confused by Aaron’s nasty attitude.
“What you A.J. and Joey made a bet about in high school.” Sandy filled in the blanks.
“We made a lot of bets in high school.” Cory laughed.
“The big bet that I won at the end of grade twelve.” Aaron turned to Bethany and her breath caught in her throat.
“Didn’t you rub that in enough that summer?” Cory groaned.
“I’m not rubbing it in. I want you to tell Bethany what the bet was.” His eyes bored into hers.
“Yes, Bethany, he had the highest average out of three of us. Son of a bitch beat me by three fucking marks.” Cory grabbed a chair behind him and straddled it.
“Was there a bet about me getting into someone’s pants?” Aaron raised an eyebrow.
“Not that I know of and you know how close A.J., Joey and I were.” Cory stared at her for a moment. “Does someone want to tell me what this is all about?”
“Bethany left town thirteen years ago because she overheard Raquel say we had a bet to see if I could get into Bethany’s pants.” Aaron turned in the seat and looked at Cory. “Oh, and apparently I was fucking Raquel.”
“Seriously? That’s why you left?” Cory’s mouth dropped open.
“Yeah.” Aaron stood up and started toward the door.
“Aaron,” Bethany managed to say as she stood up.
He stopped and turned around. The shattered look on his face was worse than the one he had the night she ended things.
“I owe you an apology.” Bethany took a step toward him only to have him hold up his hand to stop her.
“No, you don’t. You believed what you heard. How could I be mad about that?” Aaron spun around and shoved the door open.
“Bethany, you should have talked to him before you ran away.” Jess stepped in front of her. “It took him a long time to get over you.”
“What the hell are you talking about? He never got over her.” Kristy snapped.
Bethany didn’t know what to say. She’d spent thirteen years believing Aaron used her to win a bet. The shock of the truth overwhelmed her, and she felt sick. She’d let Raquel’s lies destroy the life she could have had with Aaron.
She managed to get outside and brace herself against the side of the pub. Bethany covered her face with her hands and sobbed. She honestly didn’t know why she was crying.
“How could I be so stupid?” She rested her head back on the wall.
Was it stupidity or the low self-esteem of a slightly overweight teenage girl? It was hard to remember why she didn’t just confront Aaron back then. Give him a piece of her mind when she overheard Raquel. She wouldn’t hesitate to do it now, but it was the thought of everyone laughing and making fun of her that kept her from doing that. She was Butterball Bethany, after all.
How was it after thirteen years she still felt like that girl sometimes? Bethany wasn’t her anymore. She was a confident, strong woman and not that she was arrogant, but she saw how some men looked at her. She wasn’t drop-dead gorgeous like some woman, but she was attractive, and she was thinner than high school, but she still had curves.
“Are you okay?” Sandy’s voice said next to her.
“I’m fine.” Bethany forced a smile.
“I know as well as any woman that when we say, fine, it means we are not fine. Come back to the diner.” Sandy touched Bethany’s arm, and Bethany glanced over her shoulder to see Crash disappear around the front of the building.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea and I’ve got to get back home.” Bethany wiped her knuckles under her eyes to wipe away the tears.
“Do you know it took a long time for Ian and me to get together finally?” Sandy smiled.
“Umm… well, no.” Bethany didn’t know where this was going.
“I see a lot of me in you. Let me guess; you were bullied in school by this Raquel person, which I’d like to meet face to face, by the way.” Sandy narrowed her eyes.
“I wasn’t the only one she harassed.” Bethany smiled.
“I’m sure you weren’t, but it made you feel like you were never good enough for anyone. For A.J., right?” Sandy raised an eyebrow.
“Yes.” Bethany sighed.
“That bitch probably takes pride in the fact that she split you guys up even if she didn’t end up with A.J. in the end, which she didn’t. Ever.” Sandy emphasized the last word.
Bethany didn’t know what to say, but part of her was elated that Raquel never got her claws into Aar
on. She nodded to show Sandy that she was listening even though she hadn’t spoken.
“The point is, don’t let her keep you both from seeing if any of the old feelings are there. I think they are. From the way A.J. acted, he’s pissed not because he doesn’t care but because he’s hurt you would think so badly of him.” Sandy smiled. “Plus, Kristy, Cory, and Jess told me that they don’t think he ever got over you. I guess it’s why he’s never had a steady girlfriend.”
“Never?” Bethany couldn’t believe Aaron would be pining over her for that long.
“Never. I’m not going to lie and tell you he’s been celibate, because he hasn’t.” Sandy held out her hand.
“What?” Bethany asked confused.
“Give me your phone.” Sandy wiggled her fingers.
“Why?” Bethany pulled out her phone and held it out to the woman.
“Because I’m going to put my phone number as well as A.J.’s in your phone. You can use them or not.” Sandy tapped the numbers into her phone. “I’ve also sent myself a text, so I’ve got your number. Not that I couldn’t get it if you didn’t give it to me.”
Sandy grinned at her as she gave Bethany back her phone. Bethany couldn’t help but smile at the pretty woman. She liked Sandy and knew somehow; she would be a good friend.
“I’ve got to get back and grab Alex before I go get my girls at school.” Sandy smiled. “Don’t hesitate to call even if it’s just to say hi.”
“Sandy?” Bethany smiled.
“Yeah?”
“Thanks, and I usually go by Beth now, but I’m starting to think Bethany is making a comeback.” Bethany waved as Sandy walked away.
Bethany may be making a comeback, but it would be a new Bethany. One that wasn’t easily intimidated by cruel bitches that wanted to hurt people because their own lives were so pathetic. She also needed to let her father know the truth. It was also time to open the box and see what Aaron had left her all those years ago.
Chapter 10
Aaron couldn’t believe he’d spent the last thirteen years wondering what he did to make Bethany dump him when he hadn’t done a God damn thing. She left because she believed something she’d overheard in the bathroom from the fucking bitch that tortured her.
Dangerous Witness (O'Connor Brothers Book 7) Page 7